Thursday, February 18, 2016

Cliven Bundy & Sons Indicted On 16 Counts By Federal Grand Jury

Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy

Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy - along with his sons Ammon and Ryn - have been indicted by a federal grand jury on 16 felony charges relating to the now infamous armed standoff with the federal government in 2014 in Nevada.

"Persons who use force and violence against federal law enforcement officers who are enforcing court orders, and nearly causing catastrophic loss of life or injury to others, will be brought to justice," U.S. Attorney Daniel G. Bogden said.

Cliven Bundy was denied bail on Tuesday after a judge in an Oregon federal court determined that he was a flight risk, said Natalie Collins, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada. Bundy is scheduled to be back in court Friday.

Last week, Bundy was charged with six counts in that 2014 showdown against federal land managers on the open range where his cattle grazed and fed.

The federal Bureau of Land Management and local authorities backed down in the face-off, halted the roundup of Bundy's cattle and returned about 300 head to avoid any violence.

Authorities accused Bundy of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, assault on a federal law officer by use of a deadly and dangerous weapon, interference with commerce by extortion and obstruction of justice.

"The defendants recruited, organized, and led hundreds of other followers in using armed force against law enforcement officers in order to thwart the seizure and removal of Cliven Bundy's cattle from federal public lands," the indictment said. "Bundy had trespassed on the public lands for over 20 years, refusing to obtain the legally-required permits or pay the required fees to keep and graze his cattle on the land."